Committee On Judicial Ethics

April 18, 2022 | New York Law Journal

A full-time judge may serve as a "fire officer" or "trustee" for a not-for-profit volunteer fire department, provided the position does not confer peace officer or police officer status, does not involve investigative responsibilities or working with law enforcement, and does not involve the judge with fund-raising.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

5 minute read

April 12, 2022 | New York Law Journal

A full-time court attorney-referee who receives a commission of over $150 for serving as executor of a family member's estate must report it to the clerk of the court as required by Section 100.4(H)(2).

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

4 minute read

April 11, 2022 | New York Law Journal

Where an attorney recently provided brief and preliminary legal advice to the judge's law clerk's child, the judge may preside in unrelated matters where the attorney appears without disclosure or insulation of the law clerk.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

5 minute read

April 10, 2022 | New York Law Journal

May a full-time judge serve on a community advisory committee for a religiously affiliated not-for-profit nursing home?

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

2 minute read

April 05, 2022 | New York Law Journal

A town justice may not simultaneously serve as the director of a non-profit civil legal services agency where the judge's responsibilities include overseeing attorneys and advocates who are likely to appear in the judge's court in summary eviction proceedings.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

4 minute read

April 04, 2022 | New York Law Journal

May a judge, at the request of an assistant district attorney who regularly appears before them, write a letter of recommendation in support of the attorney's application for employment as a federal prosecutor?

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

3 minute read

April 03, 2022 | New York Law Journal

When a village trustee resigns to take office as village justice, is he/she required to disqualify whenever the village attorney appears and/or in all cases involving village laws or ordinances?

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

2 minute read

March 31, 2022 | New York Law Journal

Where the court's chief clerk has filed a criminal complaint against a litigant for making threats against the clerk, whether the judge must recuse from the litigant's pending matters is a discretionary decision to be guided by the judge's conscience.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

4 minute read

March 29, 2022 | New York Law Journal

(1) Provided the judge can be fair and impartial in the underlying criminal case, the judge need not disqualify if the judge or their law clerk cooperate as fact witnesses in a police investigation concerning a bench conference in which an active state trooper was identified solely as defense counsel's "associate." (2) The judge also need not insulate the law clerk, provided the judge is satisfied the law clerk can be fair and impartial.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

6 minute read

March 28, 2022 | New York Law Journal

A town justice may not accept employment as confidential secretary to the county sheriff, where the court's calendar includes a substantial number of tickets issued by the sheriff's deputies.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

4 minute read